Golf game system and method

ABSTRACT

A golf game system has one or more tee areas for use by players in striking balls and a plurality of sets of balls, each set of balls having an identifying code. At least one target hole is spaced a predetermined distance from the tee area or areas, the target hole being raised above the ground level so that balls can only enter the hole on the fly and cannot roll into the hole, and a secure ball collector is arranged to receive any balls entering the target hole for verification purposes. A winning ball return system returns winning balls entering the target hole to the secure winning ball collector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to ball games and is particularly concerned with a golf game system and method with a driving range having one or more target holes for testing a player's skill.

The traditional game of golf is very popular in many parts of the world. This has led to the development of smaller scale golf games and other games of skill involving the same general principals as golf. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,677 of Foley describes a golf driving range with a series of tee points or booths facing a golf driving fairway having a plurality of holes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,642 of Bonacorsci describes a similar golf game apparatus with individual tee areas facing a target. Special balls with unique identification codes are detected by a code reader on entering a target, and winning players are awarded a prize.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf game system and method.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a golf game system is provided, which comprises at least one tee area for use by players in striking balls, a plurality of sets of balls, each set of balls having an identifying code, a secure building or kiosk having a secure winning ball collector for receiving a winning ball, at least one target hole spaced a predetermined distance from the tee area, the target hole being raised above the ground level whereby balls can only enter the hole on the fly and cannot roll into the hole, and a winning ball return system for returning winning balls entering the target hole to the secure winning ball collector.

The secure building may be located away from the public area open to players, for security purposes. A second ball return system may be provided for returning balls which miss the target hole to a central collection area. The ball return systems may comprise pipes with air or water jets for transporting balls, or conveyors or the like. Significant skill will be needed to properly direct a ball into the raised target hole such that it can fall into the hole from above, or “on the fly”. This will motivate players to play the game repeatedly in order to improve their targeting skills.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a plurality of tee areas are provided, each tee area having a unique identifying code corresponding to one of the sets of balls. The tee areas and balls may be color coded, but other insignia may be used such as symbols, numbers, or the like. The target hole may be positioned on an island in a pool of water, with tee areas located along the shore of the pool. The bottom of the pool is inclined downwardly from the island towards the shore, so that losing balls which fall in the water will roll back down towards the tee areas. They are then collected in separate collection ponds and returned by a conveyor system to a central collection area or kiosk, for sorting by personnel according to the identifying code.

The target hole may be a pipe or tube projecting upwardly from the ground at a predetermined angle, with an open upper end for receiving a properly directed ball. This means that any winning shot must enter the open upper end of the tube without contacting the ground, i.e. “on the fly”, and balls cannot roll into the target hole. This requires a high level of skill. The target pipe is connected via a return pipeline to the winning ball collector in the secure kiosk, and balls may be conveyed along the pipeline by air jets or the like. A video system may be provided with a camera directed to the target hole and video monitors viewable by patrons so that they can check the accuracy of their shots. A second camera may be directed at the winning ball collector, which may be a gold cup or the like. Personnel in the ticket sales/receipts kiosk can enter information on winning balls, accumulated points, real time receipts, and prizes, among other things, for display to customers and patrons on the video monitors.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, patrons pay a fee to obtain a certain number of color coded balls, and take the balls to the corresponding kiosk. Winning golfers are rewarded with a portion of the overall payment proceeds to date. The longer it takes for a golfer to achieve a winning shot, the higher the prize, since payment proceeds will continue to accumulate until a ball enters the target hole. The current prize amount may also be displayed to patrons on the video monitors. Alternatively, winning players may be rewarded with set prizes.

According to another aspect of the invention, a golf game method is provided, which comprises the steps of:

providing each player with a set of golf balls, each set of golf balls having a predetermined identifying characteristic corresponding to a characteristic;

each player striking said golf balls from a tee area towards a target hole spaced from the tee area and raised above the ground, such that a ball must enter the target hole on the fly and cannot roll in to the target hole;

transporting any winning ball from the target hole to a secure winning ball collector;

determining the identity of the winning player based on the identifying characteristic of the ball; and

awarding a prize to the winning player.

The method may also comprise returning lost balls which miss the target hole to a central collection area for sorting and dispensing to additional players. A prize may be calculated based on total game receipts between winning shots, with the winning player being awarded a percentage of the total accumulated receipts since the last winning shot.

The golf game system and method of this invention will be fun to play and will help golfers to increase their aiming accuracy. The raised main target hole which is inclined towards the tee area generally ensures that balls normally cannot simply roll into the main target hole, but must generally be aimed with skill accurately along an airborne path towards the target hole so that the ball might normally fall into the target hole from above the target hole, or on the fly or on the hop. This will require some skill on the part of the player, and players of sufficient skill will be rewarded for their efforts, both in seeing their coded ball fall into the hole on the video monitors, and optionally with prizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a golf game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the driving range of the system of FIG. 1, with a target hole on an island surrounded by water;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away side elevation view illustrating a lost ball return apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view illustrating a lost ball collection arrangement for collecting and directing balls to a return transport apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a cut-away side elevation view illustrating more details of the lost ball return apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating an alternative ball return mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a golf game system or apparatus and method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The entire golf game system may be enclosed within an outer boundary 10, such as a fence or wall, for security purposes. The system basically comprises a first kiosk or building 101 for ticket purchase, a second kiosk or building 103 for distributing golf balls, a series of tee areas or tee boxes 105, labeled 105.1, 105.2 . . . 105.12 in FIG. 1, and a target hole 109 spaced from the tee areas 105 by a predetermined distance. It will be understood that the two kiosks 101,103 need not be separate but may be combined into a single kiosk. One of the kiosks has a secure room 113 containing a winning ball collector 114, which may be a gold cup or the like.

The balls are provided in sets, each ball in a set having a predetermined identifying characteristic, such as color or the like. The tee areas or boxes 105 each have a predetermined identifying characteristic matching that of the balls of a particular set, and walkways 104 leading from the ball distribution kiosk to the respective tee areas 105 may also have corresponding markings to lead the player to the proper tee area. In the exemplary embodiment, the identifying characteristic is color, but other identifying characteristics such as symbols or numbers may be used in alternative systems.

The target hole 109 is mounted on an island 108 surrounded by a pool 100 of water, the pool having a peripheral rim 107. Beaches 12 which may comprise fake grass (green) or sand (white) rubber mats (FIG. 2) extend from the peripheral wall 10 to the pool, and may be inclined downwardly to return any balls falling on the grass into the pool. Sand traps 12A may also be provided adjacent the pool. Hole 109 comprises the open upper end of a pipe or tube 109A which projects upwardly from the ground and is inclined at a predetermined angle towards the tee boxes. In the exemplary embodiment, the pipe is inclined at an angle of around 85 degrees towards the tee boxes, and may be inclined at an angle in the range from vertical to 60 degrees towards the tee boxes 105. The length of the pipe 109A from the ground to the open upper end may be in the range of three feet to six feet. The pipe may be at a distance of around 120 to 180 yards from the tee boxes, and in an exemplary embodiment is located at a distance of approximately 166 yards from the tee boxes.

A first or winning ball return system 200 returns any ball entering hole 109 to the secure room 113 and drops it into the collector 114. A second or lost ball return system 202 returns lost balls which miss the hole 109 to kiosk 103 for sorting and redistributing to players, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

A video system is provided for monitoring play. A first camera 110 is directed at the target hole 109 and a second camera 204 is directed at the winning ball collector 114 in the secure room 113. The cameras are connected to video display monitors 111 distributed around the game area for real time reporting of accumulating receipts and related prize and play results. The monitors 111 may be located, for example, in the positions illustrated in FIG. 1, and inside the secure room or kiosk for monitoring by personnel.

The winning ball return system 200 comprises a tube or pipe 112 extending underground and connecting the target hole pipe 109A to the winning ball collector 114, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The ball may be conveyed along the tube by air jets, vacuum suction or the like. Alternatively, tube 112 may be on a relatively steep slope, as indicated in FIG. 3, and may return winning balls to the basement of the secured room and into the winning ball collector 114. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the side of the pool 100 remote from the tee areas 105 may be provided with decorative landscaping such as bushes, rocks and waterfalls or the like. The island 108 may also include landscaping such as trees or bushes, as indicated in FIG. 2, to increase the aesthetic appeal of the game system.

The lost ball return system 202 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5. The bottom or floor 205 of the pool 100 is inclined downwardly towards the tee areas 105 on one side of the pool. This means that balls 206 which fall into the water will tend to roll towards that side of the pool, as indicated in FIG. 3. A series of collection ponds 208 are located adjacent the rim of the pool at the deepest end of the pool, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. Balls will tend to collect in the lower ends of these ponds, beneath the tee area, and will drop one by one from the pond onto a conveyor belt 210 (FIG. 5), which lifts them back up and returns them to a ball collection area or table 212 inside ball distribution kiosk 103, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. A ball return conveyor is associated with each pond. The table 212 may be a grating to allow water to drip off the balls and be returned to the pool 100.

In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the return conveyors 210 are replaced by return tubes or pipes 214 and the balls 206 are conveyed along the pipes by water or air jets 215, vacuum or the like. FIG. 7 illustrates the return pipes 214 from several of the collection ponds directing balls back onto the ball collection area 212.

In order to play the golf game of this invention, a customer or player buys a token or ticket for a fee and is provided with information on the game and the prizes offered. The customer then enters the game area within wall 10 and receives a number of color coded balls for their token or ticket. They then proceed along walkways 104 to the tee area 105 which matches the balls they were given. The player then proceeds to hit their balls towards the target hole 109 on island 108. Balls can only enter the target hole “on the fly”, in other words dropping into the hole from the air, due to the raised elevation of the hole 109. This means that a certain level of skill is required in order to aim the ball so that it drops into the hole.

While playing, the player can monitor the target hole on the video screens 111 and will be able to see if their ball or another player's ball enters the hole. Video screens 111 also display the winning cup 114 in the secured room, and the prize amount. The prize may be a progressive total comprising a percentage of the entry fee receipts between winning shots. Alternatively fixed prizes may be provided. Since the balls are color coded, the player can readily determine whether or not their ball has hit the target or hole 109. When play is complete, the player can exit the game area or purchase another ticket for an additional set of balls.

The golf game system and method of this invention will be fun to play and will motivate golfers to practice in order to increase their aiming accuracy. The raised target hole which is inclined towards the tee area ensures that balls cannot simply roll into the hole, but must be aimed accurately along an airborne path to fall into the hole from above, without touching the ground. Significant skill will be needed to properly direct a ball into the raised target hole such that it can fall into the hole from above, or “on the fly”. This will motivate players to play the game repeatedly in order to improve their targeting skills. Players of sufficient skill will be rewarded for their efforts, both in seeing their coded ball fall into the hole on the video monitors, and optionally with prizes.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A golf game system, comprising: at lease one tee area for use by players in striking balls; a plurality of sets of balls, each set of balls having a unique identifying code; a secure building having a secure winning ball collector; at least one target hole spaced a predetermined distance from the tee area, the target hole being raised above the ground level whereby balls can only enter the hole on the fly and cannot roll into the hole; and a winning ball return system for returning winning balls entering the target hole to the secure winning ball collector.
 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pipe extending upwardly from the ground at said predetermined distance, the pipe having an open upper end comprising said target hole.
 3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pipe has a length in the range from three feet to six feet.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pipe is at an angle in the range from vertical to an inclination of sixty degrees towards the tee area.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipe is at an inclination angle of approximately eighty five degrees towards the tee area.
 6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winning ball return system comprises a return pipe connecting the target hole to the winning ball collector.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the winning ball return system further comprises propelling means for propelling a ball along the return pipe.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a return ball collection area and a second ball return system for returning balls which miss the target hole to the return ball collection area.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second ball return system comprises a downwardly inclined path from the target hole to the tee area, the path having a lower end, and a conveyor for conveying balls from the lower end of the inclined path to the collection area.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifying codes are selected from the group consisting of colors, numbers, shapes, and symbols.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the identifying codes are colors.
 12. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of tee areas, each tee area having an identifying code corresponding to the identifying code of a respective one of the sets of balls.
 13. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an island, the target hole being positioned on the island, and a pool of water surrounding the island, the pool having a shore and the tee areas being positioned along the shore facing the target hole.
 14. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a camera directed to the target hole and video monitors connected to the camera and positioned for viewing by players.
 15. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a second camera directed at the winning ball collector.
 16. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the camera and video monitors for displaying the target hole and prize information to players 17-21. (canceled) 